BJP's 'Mangaluru Chalo' was stopped by Karnataka police on Tuesday, sparking off a massive face-off between the Congress and the BJP in poll-bound Karnataka.

&nbspPhoto Credit:&nbspIndiatimes

Bengaluru: BJP's 'Mangaluru Chalo' was stopped by Karnataka police on Tuesday, sparking off a massive face-off between the Congress and the BJP in poll-bound Karnataka.

The BJP leaders have, however, defied the police and vowed to march on, forcing the police to detain several BJP leaders and workers.

The 'Mangaluru Chalo' bike rally has been organized by BJP’s Yuva Morcha to protest against the murder of Hindu activists in the coastal region and to demand the resignation of Dakshina Kannada district in charge minister B Ramanath Rai for supporting "anti-Hindu" groups.

Among those detained were former deputy chief minister R Ashoka, Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha and MLAs Arvinda Limbavali and Satish Reddy.

Ashoka and other leaders sat in protest near the Freedom Park and demanded that police furnish an arrest warrant, resulting in a heated argument between the officials and the leaders, following which they were frisked away.

The protest and resultant chaos caused traffic snarls around Freedom Park which is located near one of the busiest junctions in the heart of the city, causing inconvenience to commuters.

Police had denied permission for the rally but the BJP insisted they would go ahead with the rally plan.

BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar, KS Eshwarappa and R Ashoka had sought permission to conduct the rally, however, Bengaluru City Police had denied permission for the rally and had imposed prohibitory orders for three days under the Karnataka Police Act.

The police tightened security in and around sensitive and hyper sensitive areas that the rally to go through.

The BJP on Monday had alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka was creating a situation of an "undeclared bundh", with an intention to stop the rally and asked the government not to stop the rally, being held democratically.

"We have no objections to do a rally, we have asked the police to ensure that there is no disturbance to law and order and the public," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had said.

BJP's 'Mangaluru Chalo' bike rally stopped by Karnataka police, Yuva Morcha leaders detainedDescription:BJP's 'Mangaluru Chalo' was stopped by Karnataka police on Tuesday, sparking off a massive face-off between the Congress and the BJP in poll-bound Karnataka.Times Now